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important, for our aircraft, working westward into the Atlantic.
If it were proclaimed an American interest that the resistance
of Great Britain should be prolonged and the Atlantic route kept
open for the important armaments now being prepared for Great
Britain in North America, the Irish in the United States might
be willing to point out to the Government of Eire the dangers
which its present policy is creating for the United States itself.
His Majesty's Government would of course take the most effective
steps beforehand to protect Ireland if Irish action exposed it
to a German attack. It is not possible for us to compel the people
of Northern Ireland against their will to leave the United Kingdom
and join Southern Ireland. But I do not doubt that if the Government
of Eire would show its solidarity with the democracies of the
English speaking world at this crisis a Council of Defense of
all Ireland could be set up out of which the unity of the island
would probably In some form or other emerge after the war.
15. The object of the foregoing measures is to